Mabuchi Motor Company, Limited of Chiba Prefecture, Japan is the world's number one manufacturer of small electric motors. Mabuchi motors are commonly found on entry-level R/C kits from virtually every manufacturer. The company traces its roots to 1946 when honorary chairman Kenici Mabuchi founded "Kansai Rika Kenkyusho," a scientific research institute. They created the world's first high performance horseshoe-shaped magnetic motor in 1947. Today, Mabuchi employs more than 50,000 worldwide. Annual sales in 2004 totalled ¥99,347 million.